Psalms 50

1 A psalm of Asaph. The Lord, the Almighty God, speaks! He summons everyone on earth, from the east to the west.

A psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2 God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone.

3 Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.

Our God comes and does not stay silent; a fire devours before him, and it is very stormy around him.

4 He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.

He calls to the heavens above and to the earth so that he may judge his people:

5 “Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”

“Gather my faithful ones together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

6 The heavens declare his decisions are right, for God himself is the judge. (Selah)

The heavens will declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)

7 “My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. I am God, your God!

“Hear, my people, and I will speak; I am God, your God.

8 I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.

I will not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are always before me.

9 I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,

I will take no bull out of your house, or male goats out of your folds.

10 for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.

I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine, and everything in it.

13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

Will I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

14 Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.

15 and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank me.”

Call on me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will glorify me.”

16 But to the wicked God says, “What's the point of mechanically repeating my laws or making empty promises about obeying the agreement?

But to the wicked God says, “What have you to do with declaring my statutes, that you have taken my covenant in your mouth,

17 You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.

since you hate instruction and throw my words away?

18 When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.

When you see a thief, you agree with him; you participate with those who commit adultery.

19 With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.

You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue expresses deceit.

20 You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.

You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.

21 I kept quiet when you did these things. You thought I was someone just like you. But now I confront you, and bring my charges against you.

You have done these things, but I have kept silent, so you thought that I was someone just like yourself. But I will reprove you and bring up, right before your eyes, all the things you have done.

22 Think again, you people who dismiss God, or I will tear you apart, and no-one will be able to save you.

Give this careful consideration, you who forget God, otherwise I will tear you to pieces, and there will be no one to come to help you!

23 But those who give an offering of thanks honor me, and to those who follow the right I will show them the salvation of God.”

The one who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving praises me, and to anyone who plans his path in the right way I will show God's salvation.”